#Iam the good shepherd

I am the good shepherd Jn:10:11

The only characteristic of the good shepherd is that He lays down His life for the sheep. He loves the sheep so much. That He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on the cross. He willingly lays down His life so that those whom He loves can be with Him for eternity. He calls them His children. Rebels as they were He made them His children, made them seated on the right hand side of the Father. And He is concerned of other sheep, who are not in His pen. He longs to bring them also in.

Undeserving as we are, He gave us the privilege. In this context read further;

The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Eventhough I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I fear no evil. For you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

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Support

If God is for us who can be against us? Rom:8:31 This is not like a match, where the home team gets the crowd support. And because of the massive crowd support, you are motivated to do your best. You therefore perform well and then you win. Crowd is for you. But sometimes it will not work that way. That support may often backfire. You will be pressurized to perform well and then you crumble. When St. Paul says that, if God is for us who can be against us, that is not in that sense. He is with you in the game. The nearest similitude is like, the GOAT is playing for your team. Even then you might lose the game. But not when God is on your side. You are sure to win. Because of many reasons. He is God. He loves you so much. He has plans to prosper you. Image credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQOQNQdj3Xf/

Essential doctrines of Christianity

Rom:8:29-30 Foreknew-Predistined-Called-Justified-Glorified. Each of these words is a basic doctrine which needs to be studied. Foreknew - knew before hand. Even before we were born. Even before the foundations of the earth was laid. He knew me. Because He is my Creator. He is my Father. And loves me. Predestined- God's plan of choosing me happened even before I existed. That doesn't negate my role in my salvation. But He chose me when I least deserved it. It was not you who chose me, but I chose you, Jesus says. Called - The calling was given to be reinstated by God. It was initiated by God. Not that I found Him. But He found me out Justified - And because of the salvation offered to me, I stand justified. Just as if I never sinned. Washed clean by the blood of the spotless and blemishless love of Jesus. Glorified - The most perplexing and intriguing word. Not will be glorified. He has glorified. The reward of the glorified body we will get in eternity to come f...

Grace

I was found by those who did not seek me. I became manifest to those who did not ask for me. Rom:10:20 Isa:65:1 In Isaiah it says, I permitted myself to be found, I permitted myself to be found..... This is called grace. To us Gentiles, when we did not seek him. When we did not pursue Him. While we were rebellious and not destined to know Him. While we were slaves to many things.... Grace came along and chose us. Not that I deserved it. Not that I chose Him. Infact He came along when I rejected Him. He came along when I was not seeking Him. But He chose me, when I least deserved it. It was God's initiative. Image credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4iLAx1OSog/

Beloved

Rom:9:25 And her who was not beloved, beloved. Quoted from Hosea. Hosea's wife was an adulteress and her children were illegitimate. Even after Hosea married her, in her promiscuity, she deserted him for others. But still Hosea genuinely and passionately loves her and busy her back. We don't know whether Gomer realised and repented. But we continue to reject His love even after He considers us His beloved when we did not receive it and when we did not want it. I am the Lord's beloved is an emotional outcry to others who ridicule is, sillify us and those who hate us. Yes God is on my side. But what has changed in you because of this cry. How does it prompt you to act? To pursue His character. https://www.facebook.com/CentralOnTheSquare/photos/womenofthebiblewednesday-gomer-was-the-unfaithful-wife-of-hosea-the-prophet-the-/10158096443522157/

The love of Christ.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ. Rom:8:35. A self answering question. Nothing. Not tribulations. Not distress. Not persecution. Not famine. Not nakedness. Not peril. Not sword. Rom:8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers nor height, nor depth nor any created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Amen. God's love will never fail you. It will never leave you. His love is always there. No matter wherever you are. But what if you deliberately choose to walk far away from His love? His love is still there. Like the Father of the prodigal son, He would be waiting. His love will not push you far away but hold you close to His bosom than ever before. His love will be there, but it is your choice to stay in it that determines whether you experience it. His love will not grow cold. But will you choose to receive i...

Injustice

There is no injustice with God, is there? Rom:9:14 God chooses one and rejects another. He predestines one to be saved and another to die. He chooses to have mercy on one and hardens the heart of another. Is it not unfair on the one who is on the wrong side of God? He has already been predestined. Then how does he stand accountable? Paul explains- Who are we to question God. It is His wisdom. His Sovereignty. Finite beings like us will not understand the unlimited will of God. Secondly if you talk about fairness talk about mercy too. Mercy shown to me. I deserved hell, but He chose me to be His son. I did not deserve Him. But He chose me. Third. This is my way of explaining it. (Not there in the portion) Cross is the reason why we can say there is no unfairness. God Himself bore all the punishment when He did not deserve it. Pure, blameless, blemishless, but still He was accused and died an accursed death. Why? It was unfair. But He chose to do that because of His love...

Not disappointed

Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed. Rom:10:11 Not in this world. Nor in the world to come. Not that all your desires will be satisfied. Nor that all your dreams will come true and therefore you will be satisfied. It is about a satisfaction of knowing God. For that has been man's unending desire. A peace that all is good. Because my Father is in control. A contentment that I am safe in my God's hand and a surity that nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Even if darkness looms all around you, even if everything around you is a ruckus turned topsy turvy. You know who holds your hand. You are satisfied in Him. He has satisfied you. He is all you need. For He is all that you have. Image credit: https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/item/248273018-close-lips-smiling-white-teeth-older-man-isolated-orange?dd_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

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